About us

The Green Health Hub is an online directory connecting health professionals, providers, and individuals based in the New Forest and surrounding areas. It’s a Green Halo project managed by the New Forest National Park Authority on behalf of the organisations and groups represented on the site, collectively known as the Green Health Network.

The Hub signposts people to nature-, heritage-, and community-based activities benefitting health and wellbeing, championing health equity in the National Park. It acts as a prominent voice on matters relating to nature for health and wellbeing in the area and leads opportunities for groups to learn and network through events like Connect and Learn.

The English national parks were created, in part, to provide a healing space both mentally and physically in the aftermath of the Second World War, with fundamental questions about the way we can sustain healthy lives in harmony with our environment also raised after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, there is a greater appreciation of our natural environment and the benefits of having accessible green space on our doorstep. Just as in the 1940s, national parks are well-placed to be inclusive and accessible places that support the nation’s health and wellbeing as well as to lead the way on sustainable tourism and opportunities for people to volunteer and engage in community projects for the benefit of all.

Government is responding to calls for these opportunities to be improved and more open to all by supporting a renewed focus in protected landscapes to reach and welcome people and remove barriers to access to national parks for all parts of society.

Our objectives are to promote health and wellbeing by:

• Building a strong, mutually beneficial partnership between the health and environment sectors, including a five-year programme of ‘Health Education Fellowships’ and facilitating effective local networks
• Addressing health inequalities locally and regionally through improved green space, targeted interventions, and nature-based referrals
• Increasing uptake of walking for health, inclusive cycling for health, and volunteering for health programmes

We want to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of the National Park whilst ensuring minimum impact and support the social and economic benefits that visitors bring in a sustainable way.

We also want to specifically help people who face barriers or particular challenges to access so that they can benefit equally from engagement with the National Park. Effective engagement, interpretation, and communication programmes with new and existing partners will be required to ensure the New Forest is a national park for all.

• Find out more here.